Manchester City thrash Crystal Palace 4-1, Cherki shines with two goals

Manchester City overwhelmed Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park, with Rayan Cherki delivering a virtuoso performance that included two goals and prompted team-mate Erling Haaland to personally hand him the player-of-the-match award.

Cherki orchestrates City's dominance

The match turned decisively in City's favour during a blistering five-minute spell in the second half. Cherki opened his account in the 54th minute, collecting Phil Foden's pass inside the box before jinking through a crowd of Palace defenders and clipping a delicate finish beyond Dean Henderson with the outside of his boot.

Five minutes later, he struck again from distance after Palace allowed him too much space in the middle of their half, dropping a shoulder before unleashing a long-range effort that took a deflection off Richards and whistled into the net.

Haaland completes the rout

Haaland had given City an early lead in the 17th minute, leaping high above Richards to send a looping header over Henderson from Semenyo's left-wing cross. The Norwegian striker sealed the victory with an emphatic second in the 84th minute, slamming a rasping finish into the top corner at Henderson's near post after Marc Guehi intercepted a Richards pass and fed Foden, who carried the ball into the box to set up Haaland.

Palace briefly threatened a comeback when Pino scored a stunning free-kick in the 56th minute, curling it up and over the wall before it crashed off the woodwork, hit City goalkeeper Donnarumma in the back, and dropped over the line.

Foden's profligate finishing

City's dominance could have been even more emphatic had Foden converted several clear-cut chances. In the 21st minute, he scooped over with only the goalkeeper to beat from inside the Palace box. Seven minutes later, he was left unmarked with the goal gaping but got his header all wrong, allowing Palace to clear.

Cherki emerges as City's new talisman

Sky Sports' William Bitibiri at Selhurst Park declared Cherki as City's new creative fulcrum, noting: "In case it wasn't clear, Rayan Cherki is Manchester City's talisman". With two goals and two assists already this campaign, Bitibiri suggested that "under the sheer audacity of Cherki's approach to the game, Foden's role is that of a supporting act".

Bruno Fernandes had alluded at this week's PFA awards that Cherki could be the player to take his assist record claimed just three months ago.

Speaking to Sky Sports as Haaland handed him the player-of-the-match award, Cherki remained humble: "That is nothing. I want to give a goal for him". Jamie Redknapp praised the Frenchman's opening goal, saying: "Cherki painted a masterpiece with that first goal. He is a genius, the things that he can do with a football".

The victory marked two wins from two for new manager Maresca at a traditionally difficult venue.